Headwear



C. E. LEWIS Sept. 3, 1935.

HEADWEAR Filed April 9, 1954' I NVENTO R GHARLEfi-ELEW S 2 ATTORNEY V Patented Sept. 3, 1935 HEADWEAR Charles E. Lewis, 'Irin'o, Nova Scotia, Canada Application April 9, 1934, Serial No. 719,628

2 Claims.

This invention relates to headwear and has for its principal object the provision of an article of headwear, such as a hat or cap, that is selfadjusting to conform to the size and shape of the head and to securely retain its position thereon without subjecting the wearer to uncomfortable pressure or restriction.

More particularly, the present invention contemplates the provision of a hat or cap equipped 'less conical shape with the result thatthe band gradually decreases in diameter from its lower to its upper edge. The hat or cap is thus provided with a tapering head receiving opening bounded by an elastic wall that is spaced inwardly from the crown of the cap except along its lower edge and is capable of expansion to accommodate different sizes of heads, besides being conformable to the exact shape of the head. When the hat or cap is being worn it is supported in place solely by engagement of the band with the head along a line of contact located somewhere between the upper and lower edges of the band, there being no direct contact between the head and the relatively stiff edge of the crown to which the lower edge of the band is secured.

Proceeding now to a more detailed description of this invention reference will be had to the accompanying drawing, wherein- Fig. 1 is a view, in longitudinal section, of a hat equipped with my improved headband.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the hat appearing in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View of the hat showing the manner in which it is supported on the head.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a slight modification.

Fig.5 is a perspective view showing the manne in which the two parts of the headband appearing in Fig. 4 are stitched to each other prior to being stitched to the hat proper.

In the present drawing my improved headband is shown applied to a hat of the kind which is made from felted or woven materials and has very little stretch except under heavy tension. My improved headband is especially useful in connection with hats of this kind but is also applicable to other types of hats and to other articles of headwear such as caps and the like.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the headband, appearing at 5, comprises a narrow, lightweight strip of elastic 5 fabric which is preferably made from a particular type of elastic yarn characterized by a core of elastic material having a covering of relatively inelastic fibrous material in which the core is held in a tensioned or elongated condition. The lower edge of the band is sewn directly to the lower edge of the hat crown 8 so that it is under a certain amount of tension. The remaining portion of the band is left free of attachment to the hat crown and is therefore free to contract to the conical shape shown in Fig. 1 where it will be. noted that the head receiving opening defined by the band gradually decreases in circumference from the lower to the upper edge of the band. The hat is thus provided with a tapering head 2 receiving opening bounded by an elastic wall that is free of attachment to the hat crown except along its lower edge and has sufficient stretch to accommodate different sizes of heads without imposing objectionable pressure thereon. The elasticity of the band also enables it to conform to the natural contour of the head along the line of contact between the head and the band which is located above the lower edge of the band, as shown to advantage in Fig. 3. In this connection it will be noted that the head is free of contact with the relatively stiff and non-stretchable edge I of the hat crown to which the lower edge of the headband is secured. In the ordinary hat the line of contact is along the edge I and it is impossible to obtain a comfortable fit since this edge does not possess sufficient stretch or elasticity to yield to the contour of the head without imposing uncomfortable pressure on certain parts of the head. 4

In the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the lower edge of the elastic headband 5 is first sewn under tension to a folded strip 8 of inelastic material. The lower edge of the band, together with the strip 8, are then sewn to the lower edge of the hat crown as indicated at 9 in Fig. 4. The advantage gained by using the strip 8 is that it serves as a filler which enables the tensioning of the lower edge of the headband to be reduced so that the remaining portion of the band will con- 5 tract to a lesser degree and will thus lie closer to the inner surface of the hat crown without actually contacting therewith.

When the headband 5 is made from the particular type of elastic yarn previously referred to I find that the slightest tensioning of the band by engagement with the head is sufiicient to securely hold the hat in place without subjecting the head touncomfortablepressure or restriction at any point of contact :with the band. Bands made from this particular type of yarn also have the a strip of inelastic fabric interposed between the article of headwear and the lower edge of said first mentioned strip, the engaging portions ofsaid strips being stitched to each other and to' said article of headwear so that the stitched'edge of the elastic strip is under a'ce'rtain amount of tension, the remaining portion ,of said elastic strip being free to contract to define a head receiving opening gradually decreasing in circumference from the lower to the upper edge of the I strip.

2. A hat equipped with a headband comprising a folded strip of inelastic'material presenting V inner and outer flies stitched to the lower edge of the hat crown, a second wider strip of elastic fabric having'its lower edge stitchedto said first 10 Y mentioned strip under a certainamount of tension, the remaining portion of the elastic strip being normally contracted to a conical shape affo'rding a head receiving opening gradually diminishing in circumference toward .the upper 15 V edge of the strip.

CHARLES E. LEWIS. J 

